Building A Company With Purpose.

Leadership

Nurturing A Culture Where Every Role has Nobility and Everyone Knows They Matter

Scott Ryser

Founder and CEO / Board Member

Scott Ryser is a technical guy with a head for business and an entrepreneurial spirit. While he’s now focused on Yakabod corporate strategy, culture and operations, his background includes designing, building and managing technology initiatives ranging from small pilot projects to enterprise overhauls. A "startup guy" at heart, with a passion to see his community prosper, Scott’s also active in the Frederick tech and business community through various board roles, including TechFrederick, FITCI, and others. He holds an MSEE from The Johns Hopkins University and a BSEE from The University of Akron. When he’s not in Frederick, he’s probably out on some backcountry adventure, training for one, or plotting the feast he’ll have when he gets back.

Scott Williamson

Founder and CTO / Board Member

Scott Williamson is a true technology pioneer. He is the co-author of RWhois, the technology used for Internet domain and address registration worldwide, and under his supervision at Network Solutions (now VeriSign), the domain name registry and root server system grew from 2,000 domains to tens of millions. Over the past 35 years, Scott has been involved in every aspect of Internet technology, and his ongoing work with community-specific online collaboration is at the core of the Yakabox. Scott and his wife Debbie are avid cyclists alongside producing award-winning wood-kiln-fired pottery through their Butterfly Bend Pottery.

Michelle Hoffman

CFO

Michelle Hoffman has provided strategic CFO services to some of the DC area’s most visible emerging tech companies including several of Inc. 500's fastest growing firms. She was recently named an 'Influential Stealthy Women of #DCTech'. At Yakabod she is responsible for all aspects of financial operations, both day-to-day and strategic. Michelle is a Certified Public Accountant and conducts accounting webinars for government contractors for Women in Public Policy, and provides training for DC area business centers and organizations on a variety of accounting topics. She has a passion for urban economic development, enjoys skiing with her family – and as a New Mexico native, loves her Hatch chiles.

Hal Ammann

President, Yakabod Federal Solutions

Hal Ammann brings nearly forty years of experience in executive leadership, program management and corporate development to our executive team, along with a rich history of delivering successful solutions to the Intelligence Community market. In the decade before Yakabod, he served as President of H and F Innovative Business Consulting, Executive Vice President of KEYW Corporation, Founder and President of Sycamore Services, Inc., as well as Co-Founder and Managing Director of MAPA Ventures, LLC. Hal carries a Bachelor's of Science in Electronics Engineering from the Virginia Polytech Institute. After 40 years of playing poorly, Hal recently began taking golf lessons, hoping to enter his future retirement to Maryland’s Eastern Shore with some momentum.

Jonathan Pernell

Vice President, Yakabod Federal Solutions

Bringing nearly two decades of leadership experience, Jonathan leads the account management and growth trajectory of the company’s government-focused portfolio. He’s ready to help you solve your share drive problems, increase your team’s efficiency through a secure collaborative platform, and easily customize mission applications for ongoing knowledge sharing throughout your enterprise. Previous roles included Director of Business Development and overall operations leadership for notable small and large Federal businesses – working with various Intelligence, US DoD-Intel, US DoD-Military Branches of Service, and Federal-Civilian agencies such as US Homeland Security and the US Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Branch. Jonathan is a proud Mountaineer with an undergraduate degree from WVU, an MBA from Liberty University, and Project Management Professional (PMP) certification through the Program Management Institute (PMI). In an attempt to stay young, he competes in the USATF masters track & field division, and leads a local youth track & field program. Recently, after drinking the (purple Yakabod) kool-aid, he has been inspired to add cycling to his repertoire.

Andy Lewis

Vice President, Yakabod Ventures

Andy Lewis is an experienced sales, business development and product management executive with a focus on creating new high tech businesses. A co-founder of Group Logic, he helped grow the company’s base of customers to more than 10,000 globally on the way to its strategic acquisition by Acronis in 2012. A “product guy”, Andy has a passion for bringing exceptional value to customers through unique technology products. He has personally brought to market or advised teams on more than a dozen networking, communication and other technology-driven software products. Andy earned a BSE in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton University. When he's not focused on products, he's an avid soccer player, even scoring a goal or two on occasion.

John Thorhauer

Vice President, Software Development

John Thorhauer has over 20 years of experience as a developer, systems architect, and leader. His background in both the financial and manufacturing industries brings an expertise that is grounded in real world solutions, spurred by an ethos for getting things done. Yakabod benefits from John’s passion for both technology and the people who make the technology possible. When John steps away from his role of leading the App Factory, he usually takes a step towards the woods, hiking until his feet catchup with his thoughts.

Board Members

Outside Directors Keeping Us True to Our Mission

Dr. Robert W. Kellemen

Bob is the founder and CEO of Washington state-based RPM Ministries and the VP of Strategic Development and Academic Dean at Faith Bible Seminary. He has authored 18 books and over 100 published articles. Bob is a national and international speaker and a consultant for higher education institutions, non-profit organizations, churches, and para-church groups. Bob is an avid sports fan and he and his wife of 37 years, Shirley, love hiking and biking, as well as being involved grandparents to their three granddaughters. Dr. Kellemen earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Kent State University.

Emma W. Morris

Emma heads The Morris Group in Atlanta, GA. She has held executive positions with IBM, Ernst & Whinney and Dun & Bradstreet Software and served as founding CEO for two technology companies subsequently acquired by Global 500 firms. An expert on rapid growth, merger integration and corporate change, Emma graduated cum laude from Emory University and earned an MBA in international marketing from the University of South Carolina. She is the author of Wingtips for Women: Success without Compromise (JEM Group, 2010).

Headquartered in beautiful downtown Frederick, Maryland, Yakabod has been a leader in secure software development since 2001. At Yakabod, we strive to do stuff that matters. We're not here simply to do a job, we're pursuing a calling. As we continue to grow, we also have a passion to positively impact our community and our region.